TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE SPEAKER OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE

February 17, 1994

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

On October 13, 1993, I provided a further report to the
Congress on the deployment of U.S. combat-equipped aircraft
to support efforts of the United Nations and the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) to achieve peace and stability in
Bosnia-Herzegovina. As part of my continuing efforts to ensure
that Congress is fully informed, I am again writing to you,
consistent with the War Powers Resolution, to inform you that
the United States has expanded its participation in this
important effort to reach a peaceful resolution of the conflict
in the former Yugoslavia.

Beginning with United Nations Security Council Resolution 713
of September 25, 1991, the United Nations has actively sought
solutions to the crisis in the former Yugoslavia. In
Resolutions 781 and 786 (October 9 and November 10, 1992),
the Security Council established a ban on all unauthorized
military flights over Bosnia-Herzegovina. Responding to
"blatant violations" of the no-fly ban, in Resolution 816
(March 31, 1993) the Security Council extended the ban and
authorized Member States and regional organizations to take
"all necessary measures" to ensure compliance with the no-fly
zone. NATO agreed to enforce the no-fly zone and "Operation
Deny Flight" commenced on April 12, 1993.

Under Security Council Resolution 824 (May 6, 1993), certain
parts of Bosnia-Herzegovina have been established as "safe
areas." Sarajevo is specifically included as a safe area that
"should be free from armed attacks and from any other hostile
act." In addition, authority for the use of force in and around
Sarajevo to implement the UN mandate is found in Security
Council Resolutions 836 and 844 (June 4 and 18, 1993), which
authorize Member States, acting "nationally or through regional
organizations," to use air power in the safe areas to support
the United Nations Protection Forces (UNPROFOR), subject to
close coordination with the Secretary General and UNPROFOR.

As my previous reports to you have described, the participating
nations have conducted phased air operations to prevent flights
over Bosnia-Herzegovina that are not authorized by UNPROFOR.
The United States has played an important role by contributing
combat-equipped fighter aircraft, along with electronic combat
and supporting tanker aircraft, to the operations in the airspace
over Bosnia-Herzegovina. The no-fly zone has eliminated
air-to-ground bombings and other air combat activity in

(OVER)
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Bosnia-Herzegovina. Most violations have involved rotary-wing
aircraft. Our enforcement operations have been conducted safely
with no casualties to date.

Recent heavy weapons fire in the Sarajevo area has resulted
in a continuing heavy loss of life as well as serious injuries
among the civilian population. An attack on February 4, 1994,
killed ten people, and the following day a Sarajevo civilian
marketplace was hit by a mortar attack that caused numerous
civilian casualties, including 68 deaths. The United Nations
Secretary General thereafter requested NATO to authorize, at the
request of the United Nations, air operations against artillery
or mortar positions determined by UNPROFOR to have been involved
in attacks on civilian targets in the vicinity of Sarajevo.

On February 9, 1994, NATO accepted the UN Secretary General's
request and authorized air operations, as necessary, using
agreed coordination procedures with UNPROFOR. In addition, NATO
took the decision to set a deadline for the withdrawal of heavy
weapons (including tanks, artillery pieces, mortars, multiple
rocket launchers, missiles and anti-aircraft weapons) from
within 20 kilometers of the center of Sarajevo, with the
exception of an area of two kilometers from the center of Pale,
or for their regrouping and placement under UN control. After
ten days from 2400 GMT February 10, 1994, all heavy weapons
found within the Sarajevo exclusion zone, unless controlled by
UNPROFOR, will be subject to NATO air strikes. In addition,
NATO's decision provides the flexibility to act outside the
20-kilometer zone in response to any further artillery or mortar
attacks on Sarajevo and authorizes the initiation of air attacks
to suppress air defenses that would represent a direct threat to
NATO aircraft in carrying out these operations. Further, U.S.
airborne indirect-fire-locating units may be deployed to support
these NATO operations. Importantly, U.S. forces assigned to
NATO to conduct these missions retain their prerogative to take
all necessary and appropriate action in self-defense, consistent
with applicable NATO rules of engagement.

In my earlier reports I have informed you about the contribution
of U.S. aircraft to participate in NATO air operations in
Bosnia. In view of recent events, I have further directed the
Secretary of Defense to take appropriate steps to ensure, in
conjunction with our allies, that the assets necessary to
implement the February 9 NATO decision are available in the
region for the conduct and support of the NATO operations
described above. At this point, more than 60 U.S. aircraft are
available for participation in the authorized NATO missions.

In addition to no-fly zone operations and preparations to
conduct air operations pursuant to the NATO decision, U.S.
forces have conducted more than 2,200 airlift missions to
Sarajevo and more than 1,200 airdrop missions in Bosnia. U.S.
medical and other support personnel continue to provide critical
services in support of UNPROFOR. Our U.S. Army light infantry
battalion in Macedonia is an integral part of UNPROFOR
monitoring efforts in that area. Finally, U.S. naval forces
have completed over 18 months of operations as an integral part
of the multinational effort to enforce the economic sanctions
and arms embargo imposed by the Security Council.

I am taking these actions in conjunction with our allies in
order to implement the NATO decision and to assist the parties
to reach a negotiated settlement to the conflict. It is not now
possible to determine the duration of these operations. I have
directed the participation by U.S. armed forces in this effort
pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign
relations and as Commander in Chief.

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I am grateful for the continuing support the Congress has
provided, and I look forward to continued cooperation with
you in this endeavor. I shall communicate with you further
regarding our efforts for peace and stability in the former
Yugoslavia.